وَقَالَ ٱلْمَلَأُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ مِن قَوْمِهِۦ لَئِنِ ٱتَّبَعْتُمْ شُعَيْبًا إِنَّكُمْ إِذًا لَّخَـٰسِرُونَ 90
Translations
Said the eminent ones who disbelieved among his people, "If you should follow Shuʿayb, indeed, you would then be losers."
Transliteration
Wa qāla al-mala'u alladhīna kafarū min qawmihi la'in ittaba'tum shu'ayban innakum idhān lakhāsirūn
Tafsir (Explanation)
The chiefs and leaders of Shu'ayb's people who rejected faith warned their community that following Shu'ayb would lead them to ruin and loss. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this represents the arrogant elite's attempt to dissuade the common people from accepting the prophet's message through fear of economic and social loss, particularly regarding their fraudulent trade practices which Shu'ayb had condemned. This reflects a pattern throughout history where those with worldly power and vested interests in corruption resist prophetic reform.
Revelation Context
This ayah occurs within the narrative of Prophet Shu'ayb (peace be upon him) and his people of Madyan, who were known for their dishonesty in commerce and measurement. The context shows the people's leadership actively opposing Shu'ayb's call to monotheism and ethical conduct, attempting to maintain their corrupt economic system. This is part of the broader Meccan surah theme demonstrating the various responses to divine guidance across different nations.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: 'Whoever among you sees a wrong, let him change it with his hand; and if he is not able to do so, then with his tongue; and if he is not able to do so, then with his heart—and that is the weakest of faith.' (Sahih Muslim 49). This relates to the theme of righteous resistance to societal wrongdoing that Shu'ayb exemplified.
Themes
Key Lesson
Believers should recognize that resistance to truth often comes from those with vested interests in corruption and injustice, and should not be deterred by worldly threats or social pressure when standing for righteousness. The true loss belongs to those who reject divine guidance, not those who follow the prophets' message.
Related Ayahs
وَأَوْرَثْنَا ٱلْقَوْمَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَانُوا۟ يُسْتَضْعَفُونَ مَشَـٰرِقَ ٱلْأَرْضِ وَمَغَـٰرِبَهَا ٱلَّتِى بَـٰرَكْنَا فِيهَا ۖ وَتَمَّتْ كَلِمَتُ رَبِّكَ ٱلْحُسْنَىٰ عَلَىٰ بَنِىٓ إِسْرَٰٓءِيلَ بِمَا صَبَرُوا۟ ۖ وَدَمَّرْنَا مَا كَانَ يَصْنَعُ فِرْعَوْنُ وَقَوْمُهُۥ وَمَا كَانُوا۟ يَعْرِشُونَ
And We caused the people who had been oppressed to inherit the eastern regions of the land and the western ones, which We had blessed. And the good word [i.e., decree] of your Lord was fulfilled for the Children of Israel because of what they had patiently endured. And We destroyed [all] that Pharaoh and his people were producing and what they had been building.
ٱتَّبِعُوا۟ مَآ أُنزِلَ إِلَيْكُم مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ وَلَا تَتَّبِعُوا۟ مِن دُونِهِۦٓ أَوْلِيَآءَ ۗ قَلِيلًا مَّا تَذَكَّرُونَ
Follow, [O mankind], what has been revealed to you from your Lord and do not follow other than Him any allies. Little do you remember.
قَالَ قَدْ وَقَعَ عَلَيْكُم مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ رِجْسٌ وَغَضَبٌ ۖ أَتُجَـٰدِلُونَنِى فِىٓ أَسْمَآءٍ سَمَّيْتُمُوهَآ أَنتُمْ وَءَابَآؤُكُم مَّا نَزَّلَ ٱللَّهُ بِهَا مِن سُلْطَـٰنٍ ۚ فَٱنتَظِرُوٓا۟ إِنِّى مَعَكُم مِّنَ ٱلْمُنتَظِرِينَ
[Hūd] said, "Already have defilement and anger fallen upon you from your Lord. Do you dispute with me concerning [mere] names you have named them, you and your fathers, for which Allāh has not sent down any authority? Then wait; indeed, I am with you among those who wait."
فَمَا كَانَ دَعْوَىٰهُمْ إِذْ جَآءَهُم بَأْسُنَآ إِلَّآ أَن قَالُوٓا۟ إِنَّا كُنَّا ظَـٰلِمِينَ
And their declaration when Our punishment came to them was only that they said, "Indeed, we were wrongdoers!"